Brodeur hopes to get shutout record this season, but isn't planning on it

In 10 starts since returning on Feb. 26 from a torn biceps tendon, Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur has nine wins and three shutouts. Brodeur needs three more shutouts to break Terry Sawchuk's NHL record of 103 shutouts and the Devils have 11 games remaining.

At the pace he's set since returning, that might be enough time for Brodeur to also break the shutouts record before the end of this season. (He broke the NHL wins record on Tuesday).

"I hope so," said Brodeur, who will go for career shutout No. 102 Sunday in Boston. "That's what I'm going to work every game, to get one. But I've never thought about making shutouts. You always think about playing well and winning the hockey game. Depending upon what the score is, if we just score one goal, I'm going to need to have a shutout to win.

"Shutouts are shutouts. There are so many things involved in them. It's hard to set an estimate of time. You can go through the stats if you want to, but there were 40-something games in a row that I didn't have one sometimes,. Others, I'm able to get back-to-back (shutouts), so it's hard to tell,"

For example, Brodeur started the final 41 games of last season without posting a shutout.

Devils coach Brent Sutter doesn't believe this record chase will be a distaction -- just as Brodeur's pursuit of Patrick Roy's wins record was not a distraction.

"That's not a distraction at all," Sutter said of the shutouts record. "It's a different scenario, but it's no different than the wins. It wasn't a distraction to us. That record was going to be broken because you're having success and this record is going to be broken because you're having success. Is it going to happen this year? I don't know. But you know it's going to happen."

Sutter conceded that it is possible that Brodeur will break the shutout record this year, "if you want to go on the percentages of what's happened in the first 10 games, but who knows? I don't know to answer that because all it takes is one bad bounce and it doesn't happen. All it takes is one goal. It's different than a win."

***

After today's practice, some of the Devils were debating the merits of playing in college over playing major junior. They had a friendly discussion over whether the winner of the Memorial Cup would beat the winner of the NCAA title in a head-to-head matchup.

Brian Gionta, Zach Parise and Travis Zajac were on the college side of the debate. Mike Rupp, David Clarkson and Jamie Langenbrunner (only a little bit) were arguing for the merits of junior hockey.

 

Comments

[ZM]

Obviously, a three on three tournament between Gionta, Parise, and Zajac with Clemmer in net against Clarkson, Rupp, and Langenbrunner. Weekes and Marty can split time on the Jr. team.

[MW]

I would think the NCAA Champions because they are all much older and stronger...

[josh]

I say NCAA b/c while offence wins games defense wins championships and those college kids get the defensive side of the game worlds better than Junior teams.

As for that 3v3 there ... I think marty would need to play that whole game and maybe put like caruso on the college team to attempt to make it more fair lol

Parise - Clarkson
Zajac - Rupp
Gionta - Langenbrunner

for the most part they don't really match up.

[bobo]

for you college hockey freaks like myself, tiks just went on sale for BC vs. Cornell at the garden Thanksgiving weekend, and are real cheap. Both teams are always in the top 10 in the country. I think BC is 2nd and Cornell 9th this year.

[bobo]

make that BU vs Cornell

[momo from Brooklyn]

TG,thank you for your response regarding Gionta. We shall see what is it going to be bigger paycheck or a home discount,team chemistry,loyalty... I am not sure,but I don't think you can find better winger to replace Gionta even for the same money.

[MW]

YOU MEAN BU NOT BC!! ARGH!

[MW]

I went to BU Cornell two years ago at the Garden and it was the largest crowd to ever see a college hockey game...

[ZM]

MW, Michigan St vs Michigan at Spartan Stadium would like to have a word with you. 74,000+ showed up to see that game.

[Zorin]

Patrick Lalime is terrible. Thank Gomez for taking out Miller and putting Buffalo in a hole. IDK why no one on Buffalo hasn't knocked that dork into the boards and given him 19 stitches already.

[Jason]

I'll give you one reason NCAA is better, you end up with a college degree (or at least close to one). Some of these Canadians and Euro players sound dumber than dirt when they speak to the media.

[Baggy Spandex]

Hard to argue with Jason. Education is greater than anything.

[modnarm]

true that

[RG9]

I think you have something backwards. The euro players always sound a lot smarter talking to the media than others. without the ummm a yea uh etc. And also answer most questions with worthy responses

[Timmy]

Nice interview with Pat Burns on HNIC tonight...
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/ondemand/?playlistId=db01e83acfdc7f61c32cb42fabc2af9a1c8490bc&videoId=1068208250
If the link doesn't work, just go to cbc.ca/sports and it's one of the "featured videos" on the right of the page...

[MW]

They must have meant the largest college hockey crowd at the garden then because they made a big announcement about it when I was at the BU Cornell game.. BTW, my Terriers won the Hockey East championship with Uncle lou presenting the trophy about 2 hours ago.

[CC (BU '10)]

^ YEAH BU! I was at that game (and the semi-final last night) and it was awesome seeing Lou there with coach Parker. TG, (please) ask Pando how he feels about BU winning Hockey East (and if he has any thoughts about how we'll do in the NCAA tournament) if you get a chance.

[mara in PDX]

All three major junior leagues have education requirements. The WHL pays for a year of college, post-WHL, for every year a player plays in the league, assuming they don't move on to pro hockey.

Going to college is no guarantee of graduating, or even getting a decent education. Athletes on scholarship are under a tremendous amount of pressure to focus on their sport, and too often it comes at the expense of their studies. (And I say this as an ex-NCAA DI scholarship athlete. Not hockey.)

Obviously there are elite players in college (Lou sure does a good job finding some of them!), but a huge portion of the NHL came out of the CHL's three leagues. Major junior is closer to pro hockey on and off the ice. Major junior allows fighting, plays more than twice as many games as a typical college season (72 games compared to 28)

Since 1969, almost exactly 50% of the players taken in the NHL draft came out of the CHL, and another 20% were international. 12% came from NCAA hockey. 8% from high school.

In the end, I think the choice is personal for each player and his family. Some kids are going to make the NHL no matter where they play (hello, Parise). Some aren't going to make the NHL, regardless. Some definitely want to go to school full-time and earn a degree. Some need the much more demanding grind of a CHL season to get over the hump from 'good' to 'great'.

But I think the best odds for a good player who wants to play in the NHL are in the CHL. And my bias is towards the WHL, which I think develops the most well-rounded players.

[DevsfaninPGH]

That was a good interview with Pat Burns on HNIC last night. I wish him the best. By the way, did you notice his shirt?

[Shari]

X-Devil Walt Poddubny passed away suddenly yesterday, condolences to his Family. He was fairly young what a shame.

[mikeschoenf]

very sad about walt.. tragic.

[Tapiolevo09]

If Shanny is scratched how about these lines:

Pando Madden Holik
Rupp Zubrus Clarkson

Lowell pulled out a big win last night to keep their dwindling playoff hopes alive. Bergfors (19) and Pelley (15) scored and rookie goalie Frazee posted a shutout despite being outshot 2-1. Lots of fights including a spearing penalty on Frazee at the conclusion of the game.
P.S. Rest in peace Walt. Never quite worked out with the Devils but a fine NHL career.